How Federer gets ball early

Professional

Can you guys explain how Federer gets the ball early. Is it where he stands or the mechanices of his forehand cause he leans into the ball. What is it? He stands about the same place as others, like Safin. But he takes the ball earlier. So what is it?

G.O.A.T.

Hall of Fame

Don't worry-even if you somehow discover his technique for getting the ball early, it's nothing that you or I or anyone else is gonna be able to do. It's called TALENT. A LOT of it. Maybe if you pray a lot...

Rookie

Federer owes a majority of his success to his footwork. I don't really understand what it is you dont understand about getting the ball early. You take it right off the bounce, and good footwork will help you time you shots.

You can also look at a player like Andre Agassi. He was trained to stay planted on the baseline, and when the ball comes deep he doesn't back off and takes the ball right off the bounce.

Rookie

Professional

Ok, footwork. But how come it looks like he stay about 1 foot away from the baseline. Is that close close for pros? Cause I stand right on the baseline, but I don't really know. I mean, it just looks to me like he stands a normal way apart. Then again, he does go closer when he starts to command the point, as usual.

Rookie

Ok, footwork. But how come it looks like he stay about 1 foot away from the baseline. Is that close close for pros? Cause I stand right on the baseline, but I don't really know. I mean, it just looks to me like he stands a normal way apart. Then again, he does go closer when he starts to command the point, as usual.

Exactly. You want to be moving into the court, not out. Obviously the closer into the court you get, the closer the balls are going to get to your feet. Its not easy (even though Roger makes it look so).

Hall of Fame

Are you trying to ask me the following: "Is that you in your avatar, Phil?" Your profile says that you're from "England"; last I heard, the official language there was "English". This is a hip new trend. Get with the trend...learn it.

New User

It's not just standing close to the baseline. It also means that when there's a loopy ball, you don't get lazy and either hit it high and out of your strike zone, or back up and wait for the ball to drop. You hustle into the court and take it before it gets too high. Monica Seles was very good at this, and I think it was because she had a smaller strike zone with her strokes. Even though she was never reputed to be a great mover, she did a great job of moving forward into the court to cut off high balls.

New User

Federer's initial foot-movement, racquet take back, shoulder turn and left arm extended are quite conventional (i.e. similar to other pros today). However what sets him apart and why he hits much earlier than others is almost immediately after, he drops the arm/ racquet head quickly and then rotates his hips forward while bringing the racquet forward with a FAIRLY STRAIGHT arm. This is the key since it
automatically puts the wrist in a stable position while allowing tremendous racket head
acceleration. Many of the other guys do most of these things, but they generally
swing the racquet forward with the arm somewhat bent at the elbow. So their
contact point occurs in front of the body (with bent elbow) whereas Federer's
contact pont occurs way out in front with a straight arm with much more racket
head speed. Check out some of his forehand clips on the web and you'll see
what I mean.

Rookie

As already stated above his footwork is excellent and that allows him to take the ball earlier and the earlier you get there the less you have to actually swing,as opposed to swinging harder becuase your out of position.Along with hitting early he also hits with more topspin than say Agassi who also takes the ball early.That is the exact reason Rios was such a great player when he was on was becuase of his footwork which allowed him to take the ball earlier and put spin, and he had great anticipation.

LOL, good one. Roddick takes the ball early??? He stands like 5 meters behind the baseline. And Safin?? He even admited if you look at the match with Federer and Safin at the Master Cup 2004. He said one of Federer's best stregths is his ability to take the ball early. And even though Agassi takes the ball early, Federer takes it even earlier. He can take Agassi's time away so well, Agassi runs like crazy. Hewitt, I am not sure about how early he takes the ball. But I know that Federer takes it earlier.

Hall of Fame

This is one of the keys to the SF match tomorrow. Roger MUST take advantage if Rafa hits short groundies like he has been doing. Especially on the bh side, where Roger is more vulnerable if the ball gets too high...Roger definitely has been known to take the ball early.

Hall of Fame

Rookie

This is one of the keys to the SF match tomorrow. Roger MUST take advantage if Rafa hits short groundies like he has been doing. Especially on the bh side, where Roger is more vulnerable if the ball gets too high...Roger definitely has been known to take the ball early.

Another key for Roger will be his backhand slice. If he can put bite on the slice, it will keep very low. This will be hard for Nadal to handle because he uses a 2 handed backhand and a western forehand.

Yeah, maybe not. But he does get the ball on the rise. I really looked closely for that today at the Nadal vs. Fed match. He stay back 2 feet behind the baseline if the ball is deep. If the ball isn't, he goes WAY in, and hits it, they maybe backs up a bit. Then does the same with the next ball. He always is very good with his footwork to catch the ball, wether forward or backward, he moves to get the ball early. Even to take just .001 second away from his apponent, he gets the ball as early as he can.

Legend

Can you guys explain how Federer gets the ball early. Is it where he stands or the mechanices of his forehand cause he leans into the ball. What is it? He stands about the same place as others, like Safin. But he takes the ball earlier. So what is it?

IMO, this is related to what people get amazed with Federer's genius: he has
unusual sense of the ball, his body and court. Although I still think Federer
won't be able to achieve more than Sampras, I would have to admit
I feel like this guy may be one of the greatest talents I've seen.

I can definitely sense this Federer guy has unusal sense of
things moving around him. It looks like he immediately knows where the
optimal position for him to meet the ball as soon as his opponent hits.
This often puts him from defensive position to offensive one instantly.

Semi-Pro

I did not notice Federer taking many 'balls early', seems, Nadal's topspin was forcing Federer to hit many shots 'up high' around shoulder height. Federer was definitely having problems hitting above his 'comfort zone'.
Great match by Nadal.